Nashville Predators: Five Takeaways From the Preseason

Nashville Predators head coach

Peter Laviolette

. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

It’s time to put the Nashville Predators preseason to bed and turn our attention to the regular season which starts in just a few days.  Sometimes it’s better to look behind you before you look ahead.  What did we learn about the Predators in the preseason?

The Predators started off the preseason with three wins and an overtime loss in their first four games.  They never gave up more than two goals in regulation and things were really looking good.  At that point they made a couple of surprising cuts including Kevin Fiala and Steve Moses and got down to the team that will pretty much start the season.

We then ran into the Columbus Blue Jackets who put a home and home whooping on the Predators.  In the ‘Stone they won 5-2 and followed it up with a 7-1 debacle in their own arena.  We aren’t exactly sure what to make about those two games other than to sweep them under the rug and start playing for real on Thursday.

There were several players that came late to the party and there was no real chemistry started until the last game and a half.  Does this mean the Predators may have a slow start?  Who knows, but there is more depth and more talent on both sides of the ice than we’ve seen in a long time in Nashville.

Here are five things we learned during the preseason that will carry over into the regular season:

Next: The Kids Are Alright

Sep 22, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA;Nashville Predators right wing

Viktor Arvidsson

(38) scores a goal past Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman

Braydon Coburn

(55) during the third period at Amalie Arena. Nashville Predators defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Future is Bright With Predators Youth

One thing we learned this preseason is that there is more young depth than we’ve ever seen in the Predators organization.  Viktor Arvidsson and Austin Watson made the team coming out of training camp.  Both really impressed throughout Prospect Week, Rookie Camp and Training Camp.  Arvidsson, in particular looked like he deserves to play on the NHL level.  Most folks don’t realize that he was chosen in the fourth round the same year that the Preds took Kevin Fiala in the first.

There were so many impressive youngsters that it’s hard to name them all.  Defenseman Anthony Bitetto is still with the team as this is written although he may be the final cut this week.  The two Russians, Center Yakov Trenin and  Winger Vladislav Kamenev look like they could be a big part of the Preds future.  Fiala and Steve Moses along with Colton Sissons could all find their way here soon.

Don’t forget about Jimmy Vesey who is a favorite for the Hobey Baker best player award in college and could possibly join the Predators before the playoffs.  He was amazing during prospect camp.  Add in Juuse Saros, who is one of the best goaltender prospects in the NHL.  The future’s so bright you gotta wear shades.

Next: What Sophomore Slump?

Nashville Predators

Filip Forsberg

(9) skates with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

2. Filip Forsberg Looks Ready

Many folks worried that Filip Forsberg could slip into the dreaded Sophomore Slump this season.  It is a very real thing that we’ve seen many times before, just ask Nathan MacKinnon of the Avs.  Forsberg quickly showed in the preseason why you shouldn’t worry.  He scored two goals and two assists in his five games of limited play.

There are other reasons to think that this could be an even better year than his rookie campaign where he scored 26 goals and 63 points.  He had 19 points on the Powerplay last season and it was one of the worst in the league.  Hoped for improvement this season could add to his points.

James Neal had a very disappointing season last year.  It won’t take much for him to improve this year and he’s already come out to say how much more comfortable he is.  Forsberg plays on Neal’s line and should benefit from increased production from the big winger

Forsberg increased his playing time by almost two minutes a game last season as Coach Laviolette grew more and more confident in the rookies game.  In preseason he even killed penalties where he looked like a natural.  You can also add the benefit of the  3-on-3 overtime where Forsberg should be one of the first on the ice as his game adapts well to the increased ice size and offensive bonanza.

One more reason that Forsberg will score more this season than last.  He only scored on 11% of his shots last year.  That is the worst of the top 40 scorers in the NHL last season.  Just by luck, more will go in this year.  In our 10 Predictions Article, we said that Forsberg will break Jason Arnott‘s team record of 33 goals this season.  We stand by that.

Next: Increased Scoring From Where?

3. Scoring From the Third Line

That even sounds funny to write.  Scoring from the third line on the Predators?  Just think about this for a minute: last season our third line at the beginning of the season was somthing like Olli Jokinen on the wing with Jarnkrok at center and Taylor Beck on the other wing. Those three had a TOTAL of 19 goals last season and Jarnkrok is the only one left with the Preds.

David Poile went out and signed Cody Hodgson to anchor the third line and up the scoring.  Coach Laviolette is tinkering with moving Craig Smith and Colin Wilson on one side of the line with Viktor Arvidsson starting on the other wing.  Increased scoring from this line would be a huge boost as it was one of the Predators weaknesses last year.

It may take a little while to figure out the right combinations and gain some chemistry on this line.  Cody Hodgson was nicked up and only able to play two preseason games although he did score a goal in one of them.  There are players we mentioned before that would love to tear it up in Milwaukee and make Nashville find room for them.  These are nice problems to have and could make a big difference this season.

Next: Defense Wins Championships

Nashville Predators goalie

Pekka Rinne

(35) and defenseman

Seth Jones

(3). Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

4. Defense Could Be Even Better

The Predators had all kinds of defensive pairings during the preseason, but all of the defensemen look as good as ever.  Add to that bunch a solid pickup in Barret Jackman instead of Anton Volchenkov and you really have something special.

Volchenkov was serviceable and played fairly solid defense last season.  No goals and seven assists.  Barret Jackman can help in a number of ways.  He is a little better offensively, he already had a goal in the preseason. His job will be to stay at home and let Seth Jones wander into the offensive zone where he can be dangerous.

Another way he can assist is to play on the penalty kill and let Shea Weber play a few less minutes a game. He was nicked and didn’t play until the last couple of games in the preseason but looked faster and with a better shot than we had hoped for.  The top three pairings of Weber and Roman Josi, Jackman and Jones, and Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis are as good as any and maybe the best in the league top to bottom.

A good defense that can move the puck like this group can cover up a multitude of problems and be a real asset.  It’s hard not be excited about watching this group in the coming season.

Next: A Taste of the Playoffs